Senior Backend Software Engineer | Java/Kotlin | EMEA/LATAM

About the role

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join our early team and help build our product from zero to one.
You’ll work on a product that helps companies navigate complex government data, from contracts and grants to market signals and turn it into actionable insights using AI. On the backend side, this means working on data ingestion, processing, and the infrastructure that powers search and AI-driven workflows at scale.
You’ll collaborate closely with a small, senior team and have real ownership, from shaping solutions to shipping them to production and improving them over time.

You might be a fit if you:
Must have:

• 6+ years of experience as a Backend Engineer, preferably in the JVM ecosystem (we use Kotlin on the backend)

• Experience working in product companies (B2B SaaS preferred) with direct impact on shipped features

• Experience working in small companies or startups would be a strong advantage

• Experience designing and owning backend systems in production (from initial design to deployment and ongoing improvements)

• Strong understanding of system design, including scalability, failure handling, and trade-offs

• Experience building asynchronous or distributed systems (e.g. messaging, queues, event-driven systems)

• Ability to make and justify technical decisions, not just implement given solutions

• Fluency in written and spoken English

Nice to have:

• Experience with large-scale data processing, scraping, or data pipelines

• Experience working with LLMs / AI-related systems

• Experience with GCP or similar cloud environments

How We Work

• Build Bridges to Help Customers Win - We pride ourselves on being obsessively customer-centric.

• Shooting Star Speed - We move with extreme speed. We value momentum, decisiveness, and the ability to accelerate when it matters.

• Fun Is a Feature - Fun is a Feature means we intentionally design Starbridge to be an energizing place to do hard work. Joy, humor, and camaraderie make great teams faster, sharper, and more resilient.

• In the Arena - We believe the best ideas come from living close to the work, feeling the friction, hearing the nuance, and experiencing the details firsthand.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary + early-stage equity

• Unlimited PTO

• Regular off-sites (NYC + global locations)

Interview Process

We move fast — really fast. Getting back to someone today beats tomorrow, and our interview process reflects that mindset. Please keep us posted on your timeline so we can move quickly and speed things up where needed.

After submitting your application, the team reviews your CV and statement of exceptional work. If your application passes this stage, you will be invited to a 30-minute interview during which a member of our team will make sure you're a good fit for the role. You will have the opportunity ask questions and learn more about the role as well.

We'll then send you a programming challenge that consists of two parts: LeetCode and SQL. Beyond that step, you will enter the main process, which consists of three interviews:

1. System design exercise hands-on.

2. Live coding in Java/Kotlin.

3. Product thinking and past work.

All interviews will be conducted via Google Meet.

Eligibility to Work in Europe or LATAM: Candidates must hold valid authorization to work in the country where they will be based. At this time, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship or assist with work permit applications.